Elon Musk has defended emails sent to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after their correspondence was released by the US Department of Justice. In a series of denials by the Space X founder, Musk claimed that he was “too dumb” to understand that the convicted sex offender was offering him access to young girls.

The revelations come as part of around three million documents released on Friday by US authorities. In one, Musk asked to attend the “wildest party” on his island in 2012. Writing three years after Epstein was released from jail for soliciting a minor, the Tesla boss wrote: “Hi Jeff! I was thinking of flying down for an epic vacation. [Redacted] told me you were planning a party. (Girls FTW [for the win]!).”

In another message, from 25 November 2012, he asks: “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”

The correspondence shows Epstein responding to Musk, telling him “the opening of the general assembly has many interesting people coming to the house”.

Mr Musk responds: “Flying to NY to see UN diplomats do nothing would be an unwise use of time.”

Epstein responds: “Do you think I am retarded? Just kidding, there is no one over 25 and all very cute.”

Responding to the revelations on X, Mr Musk said: “If I actually wanted to spend my time partying with young women, it would be trivial for me to do so without the help of a creepy loser like Epstein and I would still have 99 per cent of my mind available to think about other things. But I don’t.”

Mr Musk said: “No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released and I’m glad that has finally happened.

“I had very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his ‘Lolita Express’, but was well aware that some email correspondence with him could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name.”

Responding to an accusation that Musk was “too autistic” to understand the real meaning behind Epstein’s offer, Musk responded: “Admittedly, I was at first dumb enough to think he actually meant hanging out with UN diplomats.

“However, even after he clarified that he meant a party with young women ‘under age 25’, I still chose working on rockets and cars.”